Fantasy Football Start ’em Sit ’em Week 9 (2018)
The trade winds seem to be picking up this week in both the real NFL and fantasy leagues across the country. If you don’t know when the trade deadline is I suggest you find out now by looking at your league settings.
If you are a Patrick Mahomes owner who is on the playoff bubble, it might be worth a gamble to bring in a large ransom for the rookie phenom. He has a difficult home stretch schedule including an untimely bye in week 12 followed by less than ideal matchup against the Ravens in the first round of the fantasy playoffs.
Get creative and see if a quarterback-starved team in your league will bite on a lopsided trade for an RB1 and WR2. You never know how they might respond and you could bait them into a mistake by preying on their emotions.
Don’t be an owner who is afraid to shake things up. If you are not in the top 3 teams you could likely make a move to improve your team before it’s too late.
Week 9 Start ’em
John Brown – Bal WR
This has all the signs of a classic bounce back game as Brown has a juicy matchup with a Steelers defense which is vulnerable against the deep ball. Smoke has been the most effective receiver in the Ravens offense, but is coming off one of his worst games of the season against the Panthers in week 8.
I expect Flacco to get him involved more than usual if they are going to keep up with Big Ben and the high-octane Steelers offense. Double digit targets and a 40-plus yard touchdown through the air are just what the doctor ordered.
John Brown Week 9 Projections: 8 receptions, 124 receiving yards, 1 TD
QBs to Start
Ryan Fitzpatrick
Joe Flacco
Baker Mayfield
Case Keenum
Derek Carr
Alex Smith
RBs to Start
James White
Adrian Peterson
Lamar Miller
Tarik Cohen
Jordan Howard
Latavius Murray
Tevin Coleman
Matt Breida
Nick Chubb
Mark Ingram
Aaron Jones
Jalen Richard
Isaiah Crowell
Dion Lewis
Austin Ekeler
WRs to Start
Sammy Watkins
Julian Edelman
Brandin Cooks
Demaryius Thomas
Courtland Sutton
Amari Cooper
Josh Gordon
Calvin Ridley
Kenny Golladay
Doug Baldwin
Chris Godwin
Michael Crabtree
Cooper Kupp (If Healthy)
DeVante Parker
Danny Amendola
D.J. Moore
Antonio Callaway
Willie Snead
TEs to Start
Greg Olsen
George Kittle
O.J. Howard
Trey Burton
Jordan Reed
David Njoku
Austin Hooper
Week 9 Sit ’em
Kerryon Johnson – Det RB
If you are in standard league, this would be the week to bench the rookie running back as he faces a 5th-ranked Vikings rush defense on the road. The return of pass catching back Theo Riddick also dampens the ceiling for Johnson, who was having some success in the air with 6 receptions in week 8. This looks like another week of single-digit carries which will result in a disappointing day for the young Lion.
Kerryon Johnson Week 9 Projections: 9 rushing attempts, 45 rushing yards, 2 receptions, 12 receiving yards, 0 TD’s
QBs to Sit
Matthew Stafford
Dak Prescott
Mitch Trubisky
Marcus Mariota
C.J. Beathard
Josh Rosen
Sam Darnold
RBs to Sit
Dalvin Cook
Derrick Henry
Doug Martin
LeSean McCoy
Chris Thompson
Alfred Morris
Raheem Mostert
Buck Allen
Jamaal Williams
Trenton Cannon
Theo Riddick
Ito Smith
WRs to Sit
Jordy Nelson
Geronimo Allison
Keke Coutee
Chris Hogan
Corey Davis
Cole Beasley
Mohamed Sanu
Taylor Gabriel
Robby Anderson
Martavis Bryant
Tyrell Williams
Mike Williams
David Moore
Anthony Miller
TEs to Sit
Vance McDonald
Kyle Rudolph
Cameron Brate
Ben Watson
Hayden Hurst
Antonio Gates
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Make sure to watch the Week 9 waiver wire video in case there are any players on waivers or free agency that you might have missed and also subscribe to the Fantasy Couch YouTube channel as well as our 2nd channel, Fantasy Couch Podcast.
